Tuning-pin for musical instruments



(No ModeL) V. VON PRANKENBERG.

TUNING PIN FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS. No. 399,712.

N. FUERS. Phuwimhogrnphen Washmgion. u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VIOTOR VON FRANKENIBERG, OF PINE BLUFF, ARKANSAS.

TUNING-PIN FOR MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 399,712, dated March 19, 1889.

Application filed June 11, 1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Vroron VON FRANKEN- BERG, a citizen of Silesia, Germany, residing at Pine Bluff, in the county of Jefferson and State of Arkansas, have invented a new and useful Tuning-Pin for String-Instruments, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements on tuning-pins for string-instruments; and the objects of my invention are, first, to provide the finest tuning of a string in any desired pitch; second, to keep this tuned string up to its pitch for the longest possible time; third, to enable even the unskilled mechanic to bring the string back to its original pitch without depending on his hearing alone. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a view of the pin only; Fig. 2, a sectional inside view of its head-screw Fig. 3, a sectional inside view of its tube or cap; Fig. 4, the wrench-like tuning -key to be used in connection with it; Fig. 5, a perspective view of the whole pin with tube or cap, headscrew, and string attached as fixed in an instrument; Fig. 6, a part perspective view of the upper part only, showing the handling of the head of the tube or cap with the tuningkey, at the same time allowing the head-screw to be turned down as far as possible.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The pin Fig. 1 consists of three partsO, its square foot, to be fixed in a corresponding hole wherever convenient in the instrument, so as to prevent a turning of the pin; B, the thread part for the corresponding tube or cap in Fig. 3 turned to the right; A, the somewhat smaller head part of the pin with the thread part for the corresponding head-screw in Fig. 2 turned to the left.

The headscrew Fig. 2 consists of three parts-A, the corresponding thread part to the thread part A on Fig. 1; W, two wings, serving as handles to turn the head-screw; N, a nose supposed to indicate on the table T of Fig. 3 a removal of either head-screw or tube.

The tube or cap Fig. 3 has four parts-B, the corresponding thread part for the thread part B in Fig. 1; D, the head of the tube or cap, polygonal to enable the turning of the Serial No. 276,889. (No model.)

tube by using a tuning-key, as per Fig. 4.; T, the top of the tubes head, supposed to serve as table for the nose-marks indicating the proper pitch; K, a knob with a hole in which to fasten the string.

The tuning-key Fig. at wrench-like, to be used for turning the tubes head, adjustable from the side of same; E, the arms to grasp the head F and H, the handle and knob, the latter movable on the handle to allow a convenient position of the tuners hand and arm while turning with it.

Fig. 5 shows with its numbers and letters of the similar detail parts the tuning-pin complete, with string attached to be tuned in pitch.

Fig. 6 illustrates the upper part of the pin complete, with tube and head-screw, the latter being turned down, tied to the table of the tubes head D, while the tuning-key yet holds the tube in its position.

I carry out the operation of tuning in the following way: Suppose the tuning-pin stands as per Fig. 5 in the instrument, the string attach ed but yet loose. I apply the tuning-key, Fig. 4, from the most convenient side to the head of the tube, turning same to the right (the tube thus winding up the string) till the string is in its most proper pitch. When this is reached, I yet hold the tuning-key steady and turn the head-screw, Fig. 2, down on the tubes head as tight as possible. Some little pinchers may help enforce this. Then the key can be taken off, and the mark 011 the side of the nose can be scratched on the table T, indicating now the only possible point where the string can be in proper pitch, the least removal of either tube or head-screw having a different pitch of the string as a result, so that even the non-mechanic, advised in that direction by a catalogue or salesman, can easily discover a change in pitch in looking whether the nose N yet stands on its mark, and it it does not so, can easily adjust it again on its proper placein other words, can tune the string again without depending only on his hearing. Nevertheless this will be necessary only accidentally, as the two thread parts of head-screw and tube being turned, as stated, in contrary direction will, when meeting on the table T, act as two wedges upon each other, thus securing the longest possible standing of the tube, or with this of the string in its once reached position or pitch.

I am aware that tuning-pins are used in any string-instrument Without or With screw parts attached, as 011 the Mason and Hamlin pianos, on some sass-violins, guitars, 850., also that screws with Afferent thread parts cut in opposite direction may exist; but

WVhat I do claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A tuning-pin provided With the square foot 0, middle part, B, and head part A, the parts A and B being of different sizes and having their threads cut in opposite directions, for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination, with a tuning-pin, of a head-screw, having Wings W, threaded part A, and nose N, for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination,with a tuning-pin having foot 0, middle part, B, and head part A, the last two parts being of different sizes and having their threads cut in different directions, of a tube having a polygonal head, D, top table, T, threaded part B, and knob K, and a head-screw consisting of threaded part A, Wings \V, and nose N, as and for the purpose specified.

VIOTOR VON FRANKENBERG.

Witnesses:

FRANK MAHAN, A. L. BEEBE. 

